Arc 4: What families entail
"YOULL ALL BURN FOR WHAT YOU PUT MY PEOPLE THROUGH!"
A six-story tall Volcanic Demi-human destroying house after house in Western Walgonia. About to unleash a massive blast of lava against the many soldiers below with his magma dripping arms. Until a large gulf of wind blasted through the streets, and the Demi-human, one of the captains of the Gravestone pirates, had its mountain shaped head bashed back. Punched across the face so hard it shook and froze it all, breaking the remaining glass around, from the soon to be Dragon of Athens.
Lilith: "That idiot! Who does he think he is!"
Raylice: "I SHOULD BE THE ONE DOING THAT!"
The princess of Athens, tall with long yellow hair, protected by Dragon stone, and holding a spear coated in her Mark of Providence. Dawning the dragon stone, green mana crystal embedded, enchanted tiara of Athens passed down generation after generation. While the bulky, six foot six, long brown spikey haired woman stomped the destroyed cobble over and over. Faster than the Elities, the archers, the prince and princess, the so-called strongest in Athens, and he would only score higher. Now he was smiling proudly, leaping off the air like a pin ball to smash the Demi-human from all sides. The titan swung like a flaming vortex, so he threw out a punch that pushed the very world. Sending out a blast of wind pressure that cut through it all, opening him up to jump with all his might, and slash his arms like an A across his enormous head. Causing his stone skull to pour his magma blood. Lincoln lost control of his momentum, slipping across his burning skull and screeching in pain to the joy of Ralice. The Demi-humans rage spiked, allowing him to -
"NO!"
Lincoln had vanished, behind his knee, and leapt through it. It instantly caused the titan to fall. However the man roared and stood his ground, blasting magma from the open wound to create a tidal wave of lava. Which Lilith pushed away with her rainbow colored pure stream of mana, not only blasting through it, but spreading around it entirely to throw it all away. Her Mark at work. Raylice, even more angry, leapt and pounded against the floor as fast as she could. Dragging her Enchanted Great Sword, the Blade of Athens, through the lava all around to absorb its power, before unleashing it through the Demi-human.
Unable to stand his own empowered blood, causing his untransformed body to lung forward. Nothing more than a forty year old muscle head covered in stone and cracks of lava. Unable to even get out a word before Stern ' spear crashed through his head empowered with Spirit mana, instantly eviscerating his head without a hint of mercy in a bloody fashion. Causing the remaining Demi-human soldiers to flee, and Athens to claim victory for a battle not even in their borders. Trying to protect the country that made them. By the old strongest of Athens. Lincoln in his early twenties before the Internal mana, Lilith before she became queen, Stern before he became King, and Raylice, before she betrayed them all. But most importantly, fighting alongside them, and cheering for their dear friends, were Demi-humans. In Elite armor, with royalty, like it finally safe.
Beauregard: "Athens has been eradicated."
The current king, over forty years later, stepped through the home he destroyed and has been desperately trying to rebuild, in the image he thinks is best. Lilith, dead. Stern , dead. Lincoln, awoke. And Raylice? Chained and bound in one of Athens only cities, under a prison of Dragon stone. With a few Elite Guards, he walked silently, fiercely, as tired as ever through the middle of the night, toward that very city. Panzer. Where most of Athens metal and iron refineries, factories, facilities, and shops were. Dense, filled to the brim with people even with all the war going on. Awaiting not just one Valentine, but another. Stepping through the mines caves and tunnels inner connected throughout Athens. Leo, alone, withered, unable to even hear his own voice after getting so angry with Soku.
Leo: "She's our last hope. For me. I can only have faith that Toll will find our best Red Arrows. I just need to do my part."
They looked so similar and completely different at the same time. The same frown, the same tired eyes, hair line, nose, blood. But Beauregard has his fathers straight and spiky hair, his fathers thick eyebrows, and his uncle's fierce eyes. He was tall, skinnier, far less physically capable . Eight Years apart, Leo twenty five and Beauregard, thirty three, and they couldn't be more different. Beauregard even stomps his feet, while Leo glides across. Beauregard quickly rushed, by both wagon and foot, while Leo simply walked. Staring down at the dirt, snowy, and muddy grass, as Beauregard looked toward the sky filled with clouds.
Small birds managed to follow the Lighting Elite, and any low-tier spirit beasts stayed away even if he was weak. Just because of his presence. Their closest were going around looking for the strongest. Irsa walked through her tall tower of a home near the Tower of Athens, once filled with brothers and uncles now lost to the war, now keeping servants and a few Thorns that stayed behind. All without the unique trait Irsa possessed. Keeping a defeated look she's had ever since she lost her eye to Rosemary. Calgary on the other hand looked through the elites with Crevasse, chatting joking and laughing with him like it was nothing, while he fought tooth and nail for the prejudice with legs that was Beauregard. Toll on the other hand went through the many Red Arrows arriving from all across Athens, anyone that's grown in the battle, anyone that's ready and powerful or smart enough to step forward, for anybody they've brought in recently, while Leo walked toward what could best be called -
Leo {Auntie, please don't go too far over your head.}
Both of their heads fluttered with memories of the past. When they both ran through Athens alleys and streets, through the massive tower that seemed endless, through a land that seemed endless. Raylice was still a real friend, their mother was alive, their uncle, their father was their father and not a husk. Yesterday they thought of nothing but what to do. But now, they knew. They absolutely knew. It's just that Leo didn't know if he was truly ready. Beauregard however, bit his tongue every time he thought of it, in rage, and joy.
Beauregard {I promise, I'll kill you. Maybe not me, but I'll find somebody strong enough.}
Soku pushed out massive blasts of wind. Peter dove into his gadgets. And the Red Arrows were on the move. While the remaining people in Athens tried their best to live like nothing was happening. Unable to leave their home, but without the strength or spirit to risk their life for it. Forced to await an end brought by war, peace, or the Volcano that was soon to erupt. And nobody was doing anything about it. Thoughts that did were silenced by the shadows of Athens. Awaiting the perfect breaking point. Their home, their love, and they had no care for how it felt. Instead building armies, collecting their best, for an all out war to truly end this war.
On the coast, sitting and eating hard meat on the Molten Bay, watching Edward slash his blade through the limbs and skills of Volcanic Spirit beast, was a man lost in the past. When he thought about it, he saw his wife. When he looked toward Athens, he remembered his children, and his failure. But when he looked toward the Volcano, he couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom. After all the sins. Enslavement of the Demi-humans and a history of prejudice, filled with child labor and the struggling, filled with leaders and powerful fighters who only ever thought and fought for themselves. And now four long long years of hell, reversing and destroying whatever progress they had made with fire and hate. His own son, the boy he failed, the child he still can't get himself to confront, at the core of it all.
But he could do something; he stood up and vanished. Appearing behind Edward to flick a massive gust of wind against an invisible Mid-Tier Magmileon. A man sized chameleon with stone instead of scales and thick cracks of magma connecting to its no longer glowing eyes. Before flicking Edward as well, destroying his barley holding on stone armor to bits, and causing him to almost fall into a molten stream.
Lincoln: "Are you focusing on your body? All your muscles, bones, veins, y'know all the words?"
Edward: "I mean I'm trying but it's kinda hard to picture that. I suck at controlling my normal mana, I don't think I'll ever be able to find my internal mana. It's more rare than just awakening it! WAY WAY more rare."
Lincoln: "Well then that's why you gotta do it! Just think BOOM! Kapow! When I hit that Dragon I unleashed it all!"
Edward: "But I've got way less Internal mana than you. Finding it would be way more than just a miracle."
Lincoln: "So keep breakin yourself and building it up! The more you feel pain the more you'll know your body! But also, just breathe man."
Lincoln's tone instantly fell. And for the first time, it seemed like Lincoln was really talking. Sitting down beside Edward to face the shore. Watching the magma waves push into the water, solidifying and slowly creating the many spikes of obsidian. Something the people of Athens use to make Dragon stone far more resilient than it already is. The deep Spiritual property adds to Dragon stones natural ability to slightly absorb and deflect mana. Spirit, corrupted, elemental, all of it.
Lincoln: "So, when are you gonna go back to your friends? Your army?"
Edward froze. He hated that he essentially vanished. Without a word. But something within, the fact he was dead to the world, made him feel a bit of peace. Something Lincoln and him shared. But unlike Lincoln, Edward was more than willing to go back, however, the chains holding him down were just as heavy. Compared to Lincoln's complete cage.
Edward: "When I'm strong enough. If I fail, it would mean Moro really beat me. Making all my efforts seem like a joke to mother, to Bjorn."
Lincoln: "Do you miss them?"
Edward missed so many. Especially those lost most recently. But they felt more like a real family than anything he had in Musashi's mansion. He would never forget Al, Musashi, Kioshi, but they would agree that they were needed to help Edward find a life after his trauma.
Edward: "More than anything."
The sun was soon to rise over Athens. Peaking over the ocean. Letting Athens be bathed in their soul piece of shared warmth. But Edward did have a single friend still covered in the darkness of night. Gray, in Guren, trapped in a transparent purple dome made by the Pillar of Anarchy in front of him. He was taller than his siblings, older, far more stern, far far more angry. Out of them all, Carla was the most deadly head to head, Calgary had the most skill, Jeremiah had the most will power and devotion to the Sect, Anibys had the best support technique, and Charlie had the most powerful corrupted ability. This man, Donte? He was the jack of all trades.
Donte: "You wear my brother's mask, you mock him even after his death. You think you can be some hero after murdering children!? I don't know if I should laugh or get even angrier."
Donte tightened his grip on his long black spear, flowing with a purple Sect flag near the tip. Gray however spread his arms and legs out toward his shoulders and pushed his mana, pulled in Spirit mana, and flashed purple before a bright blue.
Gray {Mana, Half-Power!}
With a small burst of force around him they both leapt. Instantly Donte threw his spear, which Gray ducked his head to dodge as he quickly dashed across the roof, before his head flashed with mana.
Gray {Shit!}
He ducked, dodging the spear that somehow flung right back into Donte's hand, temporarily stopping to thrust his foot down and push back to dodge a volley of spear lunges. Grabbing the last one with his Cloak to hand Donte in, screamed out, and pushed his arm to its limit. Not overdrive, just enough to land a solid hit -
Gray: "Mana, FULL POWER!"
To successfully land the first blow of the battle. A right armed uppercut right into Donte's chainmail guarded gut. Throwing him up and slamming into the barrier trapping them. However it let Gray notice all the anarchists slowly approaching, waiting for Donte to drop the dome. Making him throw his Cloak out in two slick tendrils and wrap around Donte, before pulling down and smashing him against the roof so hard it cracked.
Donte {Damn!}
Donte curved around like a zombified snake, kicking backward to force Gray to guard with his vambraces, and curved up to try and impale Gray right through the skull.
Gray {He never stops, like Carla and Calgary!}
Gray moved his head right before bashing his palm forward, hitting Donte right in the throat.
Gray {Thanks for hitting me with that Gordon!}
Stunned and choking, Donte was frozen just long enough for Gray to jump forward so hard the roof beneath his feet fell under.
Gray {If I wanna make sure I don't bust my arms, I just gotta -
He pushed his leg to Full Power, tensing up and roaring with might.
Gray {USE MY LEG!}
And kicked Donte across the face so hard his mask broke, and he was thrown through the crumbling roof. However he simply fell halfway to the bottom of the shop they were fighting atop, as his Dome had phased through the ground all the way. Not a dome, but a sphere. Down there Donte pushed his arms out, screaming as his long rectangular nose drizzled blood. Causing the entire roof and any other debris to grow a bright purple, before shattered. Some of the stone rushed around Gray to trap him while the rest became floating stone spears that shot right toward his squeaking, masked face.
Gray: "NOOOO!"
With a single burst of Overdrive across his body he felt incredible pain, but the stone shattered, letting him fall down right in front of Donte, and lunge with a solid jab across his face.
Gray: "BLAM!"
He accidentally used too much mana, causing him to pull back in immense pain just as Donte lost hold of the sphere, causing it to shatter like deafening glass and sending them tumbling into the remains of an old ore shop. The anarchists roared, breaking through what was left of the door to fill the room in an instant. Stomping the hilts of their spears, blades, clubs, and massive feet against the ground in a chant. Before opening up like a door of their own, to let in a short anarchist. Donte's brother.
Charlie: "What did you do to Donte!? And how'd you lose so easily Donte!? He barely beat Jeremiah, and he was the weakest by far!"
Donte was by Gray's feet, jumping up with all he could before Gray wrapped the Cloak around him and placed his sword over his head, to his throat. Instantly causing the Sect to raise their weapons, and Charlie to raise his hands.
Donte: "What are you doing Charlie!? He'll kill me like he killed Jeremiah!"
Charlie: "Don't worry bro! If you don't make it I'll just avenge you!"
Each passing second a click of force came out around Charlie, as he was charging something big, but Gray acted faster. Pushing out mana toward the Spirits in a strong burst.
Gray: "CENIC!"
The store instantly erupted in a cloud of black smoke, which Gray shot out of like a bright blue meteor through the sky. Before falling, screaming, and barely gliding over the chaotic street. Before crashing head first with a Sect Demi-human, knocking him out in an accident.
Gray: "I'm so good I even impress myself. That's probably what somebody cool would say right?"
"Not really a kid."
Gray jerked around filled with fear and about to explode with mana, before his sword was stopped by her dense armored forearm.
Gray: "Sorry sorry!"
Venyet: "You better be! If I didn't want to win this battle I'd burn you for that!"
Gray: "Hey I said sorry!"
Venyet: "Sorry doesn't fix -
For some reason they argued amidst a battle, forced away by an eruption on the cobble street. One of many that began to fire out from the heart of Guren, the maze of factories stacked beside and around each other, filled with anarchists holding muskets and cannons. Gray leapt through the street, unable to see Venyet anywhere, until something completely invisible grabbed him by the Cloak and yanked him into the alleys, before hearing Venyet's voice and seeing a bright ball of fire appear. Staring through the dark lenses of his mask in awe, because her body appeared like ripples in space, her Mark of Invisibility automatically deactivated the second she went to attack.
Venyet: "El-Ignis!"
From her long dark wooden staff and large orange and red mana crystal, shot forth a large blast of flames that consumed the entire alley. Roaring like a dragon as it carved through the brick stone and wood, scorching the anarchists standing over dead Walgonians. Their screams were engulfed and turned to ash, clearing a path with fire for them to run through. Twisting around the heart of Guren, away from the Pillars on his tale. A Pillar that grabbed his communicator, and began to speak through the seals on all the Sect flags flowing in the wind. A set of Dark Magic seals, for Donte's voice to echo through the streets.
Donte: "THE WALGONIANS ARE ON THE MOVE! GRAY KYOJIN, JONG LONG, AND MANY OTHERS ARE TEARING THROUGH OUR STREETS! WE CAN'T HAVE THIS! AFTER SO LONG! AFTER SO MANY DEATHS! AFTER THE MONTH LONG BATTLE FOR GUREN! THIS IS OUR MOMENT!"
The Anarchists around perked up. Falling into loss. Fear. The destruction the knights were putting them through. Walter blasted through building after building in a blind angry rampage, Gabby's massive earth spells shook the streets, Carlos rapid fire of arrows pierced skull skull skull, Muther blitzed through entire groups like a flash of speed to slit their throats, but then came the Sect.
Donte: "OUR TIME TO STAND! TO RISE! TO SHOW THE WORLD WHO WE ARE, AND THAT THE SECT IS THE GREATEST SET OF WARRIORS TO EVER COME OUT OF SAGA! BETTER THAN THE VORIAS, THE CROMWELLS, THE VALANTINES, EVEN THE HELSING! A REAL FAMILY! WHO'S RAGE AND LOSS FLOWS THROUGH ALL OF OUR VEINS! WE'lL SURPASE THEM, WE WILL BE THE HEROES THE WORLD TRIES TO DENY! DO YOU UNDERSTAND WALGONNNIAAA!?"
A massive Mid tier Snapping Turtle Demi-human slammed its spiked shell against Walter. Another Potential Pillar used her Mark to create small bees made from Lighting magic, sending them out to erupt in a burst of electricity toward Muther as he pinballed across the streets. Constant Musket fire had Carlos on the move while cannon fire pushed the knights to flee into separate groups instead of a large united unit.
Donte: " THE SECT OR IMMORTILE! INFINATE! AND WE WILL NEVER STOP! SO BREAK THEM! SEPARATE THEM! STOMP ON THEIR WILL! AND PROVE TO THE WORLD WHAT THE SECT REALLY STANDS FOR!"
The communicator let off a surge in Donte's hand, over-used and unable to call for reinforcements. However, the two Pillars in the corrupted Swamp were finally arriving. And would soon bring all hell upon what was already hell. Where Gray shot through the air with his Cloak, where Venyet leapt across rooftop after roof top, and Knights armored or not slamming fists and blades against Sect skulls. Approaching the labyrinth of buildings, winding webs of metal pipes of all sizes, holding vats of molten metals that sizzled and burnt the backs of the many anarchists standing and shooting from above.
Gray {This is the core, their home base! And where all the weapons are coming from! If I do anything, anything at all, it'll be stopping Arthur's plans! Right!?}
Anarchists shook in fear the second they saw the Cloak snatch against the wall, trying to block as Gray flew through them over the roof and down an alley for Gray to swing through. Running across the wall, pinball from the other, step over a pipe to then leap up a pipe, before speeding across trying his best to stay stable. His Cloak was flowing, his bright blue mana was powerful and controlled, his mask was firm, creating a far different appearance than the Gray inside all of it. His face was filled with fear, sweat, tears, trying not to vomit from panic, even kinda musty. His body filled with bruises slowly worsening due to the mana on him. Barley avoided the many balls of fire, water, earth, bullets, and even cannon fire crashing all around. Destroying their own base while Gray took toward the largest and tallest building in the city. Built like large square stories slowly getting smaller, filled with pipes connecting all throughout the maze. With long oval windows across the sides to show the large multi-story factory within, one of which Gray slashed through with this sword to land on the sixth floors winding walk ways over vat after vat of molten steel.
Bulbing with each heartbeat of all the anarchists turning their view toward Gray. In the middle of making and putting out more weapons, staring at the one thing the Sect can't seem to get a hold of. Some were inspired, pushed to attack, others tried to finish their work, and a few dove for safety out of fear, but Gray was so scared he couldn't move. Until a Sect member dropped down from above, some teenage kid trying to prove himself by any means necessary.
"Caputring you is the fastest way to the top! Nice of you to -
Gray smashed his legs against the boy's face, throwing him into a rushing crowd behind them. He went to dive, holding out his arm to shoot out the cloak before a chain wrapped around his forearm. Yanking him into an erupting burst of copper colored mist.
"CHOKE ON MY POISON!"
It instantly pushed through the entire floor, to the screams of the many anarchists, triggering a Demi-human member behind the woman blasting gas from her Mark to bite her head off and save their lives. Saving Gray along with it, and getting kicked right in the groin for saving their lives. Gray swooped his arms down while crouching, pulling in more and more spirit mana while enhancing his flow, and yelled in pain before jumping into the sky.
Gray {Leap!}
Flying head first through another walkway before rolling forward, slamming his legs into a Demi-humans gut to send him flying back. Turned to slash a sword bursting with mana after his head exploded with spirit energy, clashing with a ball of fire so powerful the explosion sent him barreling through the air.
Gray {Shit shit shit I can't keep up! There's way too many! Why did I rush it alone!? Why am I so stupid!?}
He smashed his back against the brick wall, sliding down to the sixth floor balcony to stare at the many, many anarchists filling the massive room. Below, above, side to side. Demi-humans, mages, archers, swordsmen. So he looked toward one of the pipes above, pulled in a large amount of Spirit mana into his blade, and threw it upward with all his might. Finally creating a successful -
Gray: "BREAKER!"
A bright blue slash held by mana and spirit mana that combust against a set of pipes to his left, causing an eruption of molten steel and flames that instantly consumed a group of anarchists. Surly killing one; Gray froze, unable to believe what he just did.
Gray: "I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO I'M! I -
Unable to speak, unable to breathe. He almost vomited right there if the anarchists didn't keep coming. But finally something turned his way; the front wall of the building had just broken open in the shape of a large hole, as a massive stone dragon tore through everything in its path. The head of a dragon, connected by earth, to a long tail, moving straight through the air to destroy the pipes, chambers, walkways, and anarchists. Allowing everyone to see Gabby and a handful of Earth mages, accompanied by knights, began to pour in. At the same time, a hand touched Gray's shoulder, once again leading to him almost hitting Venyet.
Venyet: "Get a grip kid! What the hell is wrong with you!? Why are you trying to get yourself killed over and over!"
Gray: "Because I have to -
Venyet: "SHUT UP! YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING! RUNNING IN HEAD FIRST, LIKE NOBODY ELSE MATTERS, LIKE ONLY YOUR LIFE IS IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE RISKED! DO YOU KNOW HOW SELFISH THAT IS!? IF YOU WANNA BE A HERO OR ANYTHING CLOSE THEN SHUT UP AND LISTEN! GO HELP! JUST GO HELP! DON'T GET TOO IN OVER YOUR HEAD, DON'T ACT LIKE THIS IS A SOLO MISSION! THAT'S WHAT THE SECT WANTS! IF YOU WANT TO WIN, YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU DID BEFORE! NOT FIGHT HEAD FIRST EVERYTIME! BUT SLOWLY PICK AWAY THE EDGES, THE STRONG, WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES THEIR PART! YOU'RE NOT WALGONIA! WE ALL ARE!"
She took his mask off to look him eye to eye, not even looking at the two anarchists she killed with throwing knives mid-sentence. Slapping him across the face and grabbing hold of the Cloak.
Venyet: "You're a Knight, not a God of War. Go do what Gray Kyojin does, and we'll do what we do."
Gray: "...What does Gray Kyojin do?
Venyet: "I DON'T KNOW!? DO YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING!? UGH YOU STUPID MEN WITH ALL THIS POWER, NO BRAIN CAUSE YOU DON'T NEED ONE! IF YOU WANNA PROVE ME WRONG GROW A PAIR AND A HEAD! ACT ACT ACT STOP STANDING HERE STOP IT!"
Gray: "OKAY!"
Gray couldn't think or argue, he had to do exactly what she said. For everything Musashi, Gordon, and Ryo taught him. From all the battles again and again. He took a breath, and jumped through a broken window behind them to glide through the air. His mask on, spirit mana poured into his body, and his entire body jittered. His mouth shook, his eyes twitched; Gray was freaking out as always, stuck in a panic attack. The second conflict occurred to force him into instinct, battle or not, but for some reason he was feeling it more than ever. Swallowing his vomit, spitting out of his mask, and clenched his fingers, toes and muscles over and over. Past more cannon fire, raining volleys of bullets, over rooftops, while pushing his senses toward the world.
Gray {JONG! I HAVE TO FIND JONG! PLEASE, SPIRITS, I NEED YOUR HELP! I REALLY DO! AS MUCH AS YOU'LL GIVE ME!}
He didn't know what he was doing, but his powerful need for the spirits acted like a chant, causing his mind to burst with so much mana he smashed against a tower, sliding down to a roof top below. With an enormous smile under his mask.
Gray: "I KNOW WHERE HE IS!"
But he felt something else, leaping to the side before they could act.
Donte: "And where's that!?"
Gray slid against the street, glaring up at Donte and his new mask, while nearby Anarchists sprinted forward. Knights all around cut their ankles, shot out balls of fire and quick streams of water, arrows to their heads, but Gray was still forced to jump back, rolling over an anarchist before pulling his leg back and smashing it against their back. Feeling it crack as the short Demi-human flung into a group of anarchists.
Gray: "Jong! I'm going to Jong!"
"Don't lead them to him!"
Gray: "I don't think that's gonna happen, because something is after him right now!"
Gray leapt into the air out of the battle and away from Donte once again, leaving the Knights that tried to argue while pulling himself through the streets with the Cloak. A brick forest and nothing more, as chaotic as Godrick mountain. Easier to navigate. Swinging across the ground before arching left through the air, glided over a few homes before falling and swinging again, moving as fast as he could with his base mana output and high density of Spirit mana. His eyes in the Spirit Sense, and his mind on where the Spirits showed him. He didn't see it, they didn't speak to him, but his very mind focused on it like a bomb had gone off. His very soul directed.
Gray {Gotta go gotta help gotta go gotta help can't get caught up can't fight can't let others die have to go to friends have to go to Athens save Rosemary see Rosemary hug Soku find Edward help help help come on come on COME ON COME ON COME ON PLEASE! PLEASE LET ME! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!}
Rambling as insanely as the anarchists on his tail, but far weaker than the force ahead.
Gabby: "PUSH FORWARD! DESTROY IT! IT CAN BE REBUILT LATER, BUT WE CAN'T STOP IT ANYTIME ELSE!"
Walter: "DIE DIE DIE DIE!"
Chris: "DON'T GO ALONE, DON'T SEPARATE, GROUP UP EVENLY, TAKE TO THE ROOF TOPS!"
Carlos: "GET AWAY!"
Venyet: "ALL OF YOU MUST BURN BURN BURN!"
Gabby chanted toward the Spirits with her Earth Mages to send massive tremors through the already crumbling buildings of Gurens Heart. Walter left craters with each leap, smash, and slam, all while fighting against the ragging Snapping Turtle Demi-human almost doing the same. Chris slowly made his way through Guren desperately trying to direct everyone even with his broken leg, even managing to land arrows with his average archery skill. Carlos leapt to the edge of roof after roof to quickly fire arrows or pick up more from the Sect Archers while Elities chased him down. And Venyet unleashed large, scorching, bright orange and red flames on her own against any Sect Stranglers or lone groups around the heart of Guren. Everybody was closing in, the Sect were being cleaved through far faster than the knights, and even when the Knights left, their large base of Elites and manufactories would be completely uprooted. They had cleaved their path all around the South East of Walgonia, all sides to form this alpha group, pushing North, near the heart of Walgonia itself, and freeing a great city with any means necessary. The Sect have killed, broken, destroyed life after life, mountains of history laws and documents, changed Walgonia for the rest of its history in just a few months, and it was time Walgonia finally stood their ground.
They were fighting all around. The North was completely shut off. But this, this would be a real, undeniable, victory. Not because of Gray, not because of any individual, not because of their strongest united together. It's because everybody, every last person, was valuable. Not in their strength, their numbers, but just because they existed. Their hopes and joy. Their fear and anger. Their hobbies, interests, desires. All of that would culminate in their victory. And the Sect would never understand that. That is why Walgonians, for the most part, are the heroes of Saga. Maybe the world. But Walgonia was just as dark as anywhere else. Maybe, Gray could be the light they need, after Kioshi and Musashi's has faded, but that will never be the case. He would never be the soul pillar, as Gray could never handle that burden. He isn't Musashi. He is himself. And he has a family, one that is only gonna keep growing. He just had to save it first.
From the strongest Pillar of Anarchy in History, right in Guren, near Jong. WIth only anger in his mind. Gray felt that, Gray knew that, Gray knows he's broken, he knows he might and will probably die, but he's still swinging, because they all are. The Pillar vanished through the city through speed. Not targeting Knights, not targeting Gray, only heading toward Jong. The Pillar accompanying him was the exact opposite. Entering through the hole the Knights made in the South wall, and drawing all eyes to her. Especially Chris', who she had her scared sights on. Metal bolted and surgically placed throughout her body, the bottom half of her mouth completely sealed by the same dark steel to show a head grey with dead skin and filled with stitches. Eternally angry at what Walgonia, their strongest, did to her.
Gray {There!}
The north west side of Guren, filled with large shops and apartments, was consumed with what looked like Civilians fighting like hell. Jong's Knights, dawning whatever armor and weapons they could find, to slaughter anything ahead like the veterans they were. Demi-humans flew through the air and snagged other Sect doing the same with their maces and blades, larger ones below used their strength and defenses to protect and destroy, while everybody else moved to help them using their spells and skill. Then there was the tall, sixty eight year old man clad in old silver armor with a Walgonian crest on the chest wielding a Guandao. It's pole long and wrapped in dark blue cloth, the blade itself a light blue steel, and a powerful water crystal empowering the enchanted seals all across it.
Jong: "Wignis!"
He formed a bright blue ball of water at the tip, shooting out a blast of water at an extreme velocity, tearing through multiple Anarchists straight ahead before erupting on the last, large Spirit Armidilo Demi-human to blow to top half of his body off in a gory, bloody explosion.
Jong: "We must continue! Clear the West! Save Guren!"
But Jong instantly looked up toward the masked, cloaked figure gliding straight toward him with powerful corrupted mana.
Jong: "SHIT!"
Swinging his Guando, the seals ignited, until the thought to be anarchists screamed in fear before crashing face first on the ground. Tearing his mask off to show a boy, filled with fear, bruises, and sadness.
Gray: "I'm a Knight a Knight! I see why Venyet got so mad I don't wanna die in an accident!"
Jong: "Who are - NO WAY! I KNOW YOU! I WATCHED YOU IN THE KNIGHT EXAMS! Gray Kyojin right! That kid that fought Edward, trained by Musashi, screamed at Arthur! I love you dude!"
Gray: "Well I love you too dude! But we need to move, something is on it's, never mind it's gonna show up right now isn't it. And BOOM!"
On que the ground erupted in a wave of wind pressure that sent them all flying back, aside from Jong, who stared through the force with a wide smile on his face. Almost crazed. Taking a long swig of his Walgonian crest' flask while the powerful Pillar walked through. Swinging a cleaver and a sickle connected by an incredibly long chain, held on by his waist and arms for better leverage. The chattering blades instantly caused Jong's smile to fade, and absolute fear to take over.
Jong: "RUN RUN RUN! GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE GO KID GO! EL-WIGGON!"
Jong instantly poured mana out toward the water Spirits, using the crystal to boost his connection, while the seals became a blindingly bright blue. Allowing for a large dragon of ice to vanish like lighting, before the Pillar swung a chain through the air even faster. Throwing out so much force the Dragon shattered, and was flung through Knights, anarchists, and the shop to his left.
Jong: "IT'S HIM! IT'S THE FUCKING CRISMON! CRIMSON ZHAO!"
The man who single handedly slaughtered a third of the guilds, Militias, bounty Hunters, and families with unique mana traits. One of the Three Cursed Legends, some of the strongest people in the world. Approaching the buildings and streets were Potential Pillars, Sect Elities, and even Charlie and Donte. Ready to unleash hell against Walgonia's hope. So they can crush the remaining lives. With Zhao, he could do it single handedly. However, under that mask, he had no bloodlust at all. Just as scared, confused, and frozen as the young boy he was locking eyes with. Looking completely past Jong, and right at Gray Kyojin.
Gray: "Man I hate being right."
Walgonia was pushing its limits. Everybody was growing, connecting, understanding, and shaping themselves into something completely new. Athens however looked through the overlooked. What they already had, after they threw away and lost so much, for once trying not to let the war cloud a real strategy, clouded from the truth of Mount Yelira. Edward looked inside instead. Rosemary truly rested for the first time in months. Soku pushed herself, really pushed herself, with Peter at her side, instead of just sitting angry and alone. And the brothers of Athens found themselves on the opposite side of things yet again, Beauregard finally looking inward at what he has and how to use Athens' history, and Leo, going alone with only hope and the future in his mind.
And then there was Gray, rising every single second. All of them, rising, rising , rising, and it was up to them to decide how sturdy that road was.